I really don’t know how to explain how good Jimmie Johnson really is at Dover. The reason why is because he is simply good everywhere. He’s won on every type of track this sport runs, from the short tracks to the intermediate, road courses to the big plate tracks.
He’s even won the non-points races on more than one occasion. He’s just that good.
What I can do is compare him to another driver that was just as dominant, but in a different era. One who is a partial owner of that car, and at the end of the season will hang up his helmet, only to trade it for a headset in the TV booth.
I am, of course, talking about Jeff Gordon. In the mid-1990’s, he was the absolute most dominant driver at practically every track on the circuit.
Between 1995 and 1998, he would win an unmatched 40 races. In fact, in 1998, he would win a record-tying 13 in one season, including four in a row during the summer season. He would win his fourth consecutive Southern 500 that season, and wrapped up the season championship before the final race of the year. He would end up winning the final two races of the year for good measure.
Johnson is in the same boat. Ever since he came on the scene in 2002, he’s simply been good. His most notable streak in the sport was his dominance at Charlotte between 2003 and 2006. Sure, at the time the track was titled “Lowe’s Motor Speedway” but yet when he arrived there, he was that good.
But Dover, the “Monster Mile” as it’s called, is another story. Back when his sponsor also had naming rights to that track, Johnson referred to Charlotte as “His Yard.” He certainly was the big dog in that yard, and no one was messing with him.
If that was his yard, then Dover has become his condominium. On Sunday, when Johnson took the checkered flag, it would be his 10th victory at the track. And yet keep this in mind, his first win here came in his rookie 2002 season. That means, over the course of 13 seasons, Johnson has averaged a win at Dover each year except for three seasons. He’s even swept both races at this track.
Gordon, to compare, has been racing at Dover since 1993, his rookie season, and he only has five wins here.
Outside of the entrance to the track, Dover has erected a giant concrete statue that is referred to as “Miles the Monster.” In his right hand is a full-size Sprint Cup car, just to show how big it is. However, it seems as though Johnson simply laughs at that monster. Considering the trophy is a replica of that statue, including a die-cast collectible of the winning car in the right hand, Johnson has pretty much turned Miles into his own personal pet. It’s rare that this track lets him down.
Johnson now has 10 wins at this track, and he’s still not done winning races here. His career is still going strong, and will for many more years. When it comes to Dover, it’s not the monster outside the track that is the most intimidating. Instead, consider that No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet the real monster at the “Monster Mile.”
RESULTS: 1-Johnson 2-Harvick 3-Larson 4-Kahne 5-Almirola 6-Truex Jr. 7-McMurray 8-Menard 9-Bowyer 10-Gordon
NOTABLE FINISHES: 11-Logano 12-Keselowski 14-Earnhardt Jr. 19-Edwards 21-Hamlin 31-Kurt Busch 39-Kenseth
CAUTIONS: 7 for 40 laps. Lap 75-79 (Debris-T1); 164-168 (#17 Accident-T1); 176-184 (#6, 46, 51 Accident-FS); 262-267 (Uncontrolled
Tire On Pit Road); 377-383 (#18, 33 Accident-T3); 387-390 (#11, 15, 41 Accident-BS); 400-403 (#13, 16, 47 Accident-T3).
LEAD CHANGES: 15 among 9 drivers. D. Hamlin 1-41; M. Truex Jr. 42-76; D. Hamlin 77-143; M. Truex Jr. 144-157; D. Hamlin 158-159; C. Edwards 160-162; D. Earnhardt Jr. 163-165; M. Truex Jr. 166-247; Kyle Busch 248-250; D. Hamlin 251-258; K. Harvick 259-324; Kyle Busch 325-328; C. Bowyer 329; B. Keselowski 330-357; K. Harvick 358-382; J. Johnson 383-405.
TIME OF RACE: 3 Hrs, 23 Mins, 16 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED: 119.547 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.435 Seconds
CHASE GRID: 1. Johnson-440 pts, 4 Wins; 2. Harvick-516 pts, 2 Wins; 3. Logano-440 pts, 1 win; 4. Earnhardt Jr-432 pts, 1 win; 5. Keselowski-414 pts, 1 win; 6. Kenseth-377 pts, 1 win; 7. Hamlin-345 pts, 1 win; 8. Kurt Busch-340 pts, 1 win; 9. Edwards-338 pts, 1 win; 10. Truex Jr, 472 pts; 11. McMurray, -82 (behind Truex); 12. Kahne, -87; 13. Gordon, -92; 14. Almirola, -94; 15. Menard, -100; 16. Newman, -103